Why This Harlemite Fights For A Starbucks Union

MIDTOWN, NY — Harlemite Alberto Oliart knew right away he wanted to help organize a Starbucks union because the fight isn't just for green-aproned baristas.

"We're fighting to raise the standard of living for not only Starbucks workers but workers in general," Oliart said. "We're just one piece of the puzzle."

Oliart, 28, is just one of dozens of picketers who rallied outside a Midtown Starbucks Monday in part of a national day of action.

Workers gathered on Fifth Avenue and West 47th Street for three hours in the early morning rain to hand flyers to customers seeking their morning coffee.

Since a Buffalo Starbucks became the first to form and vote for a union, workers and the National Labor Review Board have accusing the global coffee giant of denying union supporters health insurance, holding mandatory anti-union meetings, terminating union leaders and even closing entire stores to stymie the union advance.

One former worker told Patch outside of the Midtown Starbucks that while it looks like coffee in your cup, customers are really buying unions busting.

"The goal is to hand out flyers and to help the customers learn more about where their money is going," said Riley Fell, 19, of the action.

Oliart works in an Industry City Starbucks mostly staffed with working-class neighbors from the prominently hispanic neighborhood.

The Harlemite his fellow workers are mostly supportive because "people are very tired of being exploited — especially older people — whether it's at Starbucks or at other low-wage jobs."

"They're tired of working so much for so little," he said.

While Oliart said he was a devoted Socialist who wants to see the dismantlement of the capitalist system, he's boiled down his message to a simple equation free of political catchphrases.

"The less they pay us and the less they pay the coffee farmers — the more they get paid."

Starbucks, a company with over 35,000 stores globally and posted over $32 billion in revenue for 2022, has yet to sign a contract with any Starbucks Workers United organized location.